Simon Patrick on the Proverbs 1683
1. "A wise son heareth his father's instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke." A good child will reverently receive and obey, both the instruction and the reprehension of his father: but there is no hope of him that laughs and scoffs when he is admonished or chidden [chided] for his faults.
2. "A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth: but the soul of the transgressors shall eat violence." He that speaks well of others, or gives them faithful counsel, shall reap the benefit thereof himself: and so shall they that perfidiously calumniate or deceive them, suffer themselves that injury which they desired to do their neighbors.
3. "He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction." It is worth a man's pains to watch over his tongue; for he that carefully observes every word he speaks, preserves himself from much trouble and danger: but he that blurts out everything that comes into his head, not minding what he saith, is in the ready way to ruin.
4. "The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat." There is nothing gotten by sloth, neither riches, nor learning; which he in vain desires that will not labor for them: but the diligent and industrious shall never want satisfaction, but enjoy perhaps a great deal more than he desired.
5. "A righteous man hateth lying: but a wicked man is loathsome, and cometh to shame." A good man not only avoids but hates all manner of falsehood, both in word and deed: but the wicked delights to abuse others with such abominable lies and frauds, as make him no less loathsome than a stinking carcass; and so contemptible, that he dare not show his face for shame.
6. "Righteousness keepeth him that is upright in the way: but wickedness overthroweth the sinner." The justice of all honest and upright designs will be a sufficient security to them: but all wicked contrivances are overthrown by their own iniquity.
7. "There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet bath great riches." You will be deceived if you judge of men by the outward appearance; for there are those who have the vanity to make a great show in the world, when they are not worth a farthing: and others, who are so cunning as to dissemble their vast estates under the garb of poverty.
8. "The ransom of a man's life are his riches: but the poor heareth not rebuke." Rich men are not always so happy as they are imagined; for their wealth sometimes only serves to make them accused of high crimes, and then to bring them off with a huge sum of money which they pay to save their lives: but nobody is apt to find fault with the poor, or to bring any charge against them.
9. "The light of the righteous rejoiceth: but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out." The happiness of the just is great and illustrious, like the light of the sun; and increases still to their endless joy: but the happiness of the wicked is weak and dim, like the light of a candle; and will at last be utterly extinguished.
10. "Only by pride comet!: contention: but with the well advised is wisdom." They that have an high conceit of themselves and will yield to none, declare their folly; in that they can do Idol nothing without strife and contention: but they that arc so humble as to be advised by others, doe all things prudently, in quietness and peace.
11. "Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labor shall increase." Wealth ill gotten (by lying, gaming, cheating, etc.) soon wastes away: but what is gotten by honest labor swells to a greater heap, which molders not but still increases.
12. "Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life." The delay of that which a man eagerly expects is such an affliction, that it differs little from a lingering disease: but when he enjoys what he bath long looked for, it restores him presently to his former vigor and liveliness.